Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-03-29
THE CAUSE OF IRELAND.
SYMPATHY IN HER BEHALF EXISTING
IN THE UNITED STATES,

A Patriotic Letter written TO HON. Will-
lam =. Gladstone BY sam. 6. Reid. the
SON Or the Designer Of the Americas
Flak-sPublic Opinion Is Public Law
WASHINGTON, March 2S-Col. Sam. @.
Reid, OF this city, the son Of Capt. Reid who
designed the present form or the American
flag: and who commanded the famous brig
/ General Armstrong" at the memorable
battle Of Fayal in 1914, recently addressed
the following letter to the Hon. William 3.
Gladstone, of the British house Of commons:
WASHINGTON, d G. I
ITO H IN. William E. Gladstone, London, Eng: n
my DEAR SIR--The voice OF the metro
politan city Of NeG York, composed OF citi-
zens Of every part Of this union. has spoken
in mass meeting for the cause Of Ireland
The descendants of Emmett, Tone, Wolf,
McNevinan and other Irish patriots Of 179S,
still live among us, with the hope to SEQ the
noble effo..cs OF thar forefathers accom-
plished by your aid and mastery contribu-
tions to unshackle the chains Of despotisrn
from tbs rights of human nature, from
whence arise the cardinal and essential vir.
tues OF justice and liberty.
ssThe spirits Of two OF Ireland's exiles Of
1913, whose patriotic nobility and chivalry
Of nature was never excelled John Mitchell
and Devin Reilly sleep to-day, meath Ameri-
can soil, where the grass which silently creeps
on their graves IN the night time Is not
stunted by the poisonous brea5h OF coercion,
nor blighted by the tramp Of the despot's
heel Their golden eIoqusnce stiIl giitterss
Hike sunbeams with every rising sun, TO light
the way for Irelands freedom and indepeDd-
ence 1t WI not be deemed inappropriate,
il the son OF the designer Of the present firm
the United States flag and who so bril-
iiantly maintained the National honor az
Fayal in 1874. while in command or the
United States private-armed brig Of war
Cen Armstrong should he add hisvoice to
osner Americans for the maintenance OF the
sacred rights, which under the Magma charta
and the boasted constitution OF Great Britain,
have ever been avowed and assisted for the
protection of her subjects against foreign
and domestic opposition, while, to-day, by
her own tyrannical acts. she Is trampling
out the life blood Of the Irish people by de-
nying to them the rights Of human nature,
and by reversing the cardinal virtues Of her
constitution. expose her subjects to be:
wronged, insulted and silenced by the vo-
taries of tyranny and usurpation.
1u6 SE0aL lIOTu lAUu6UOWu6 Oil Jil6 It-
gency question, In 1888, nearly q century
ago. said: The people have rights, my lords;
kings and princes have none The people
want neither charters nor piecedents to prove
their rights, for they are born with every
man III the country, and exists in all codn.
tries alike though in some they may have
been lost wish therefore, that the fright"
toexercise the royal authority, which has
been claimed and asserted, may be decided,
in order that those who suffer oppression un-l
der governments the most despotic, may be
taught their rights as men. They will then
learn that though their rights are not like
ours. secured by precedents and charters,
yet as soon AS they assert their rights, they
must be acknowledged Il
..Leiber says that public opinion is public.
law and it Is by the assertion of public
opinion, whe founded ON justice and right,
that the law for nations IS formed and be-
co,nss the recognized Jurisprudence Of all civ
illzed governments, by force Of the expressed
will of the peopls, which compels the respect
of legislative and executive powers With
the highest appreciation and regard, have
the honor to BE-, your obedient servant,
SAM. G REID !" !.
Moving County Records.